Waiting for Joy

Reading:

For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning

(Psalm 30:5)

Meditation:

God’s faithfulness is from generation to generation. We see that all throughout the history of Israel. But we see it even more clearly in the sacrifice and promises of Jesus.

Jesus took the fullness of God’s anger on that dark Friday—just one week from today. He fell under the weight of the wrath of God so that we might know his favor, and that our joy might not be simply for a lifetime, but on into eternity.

We must look forward to our future with Jesus, and at the same time we have to look back on his sacrifice for us that made that future possible. This frees us to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice.

It also gives us a hope that goes beyond a mere optimism. We know that joy comes in the morning for all those who wait on the Lord. And because of what Jesus has done for us, we can hold that hope even when we’re not particularly feeling like it.

Prayer:

God, have mercy on us, for many of us are already growing weary. We look for your joy. We wait on you.

In Christ’s name,

Amen.